Orange-chinned Parakeet
Tovisittich
The Tovisittich ( Brotogeris jugularis ) is a species of Neuweltpapageien. It comes in two subspecies found in Central and South America.
Appearance
Tovisittiche reach a body length of 18 centimeters and are thus in accordance with the Gold Wing Parakeets the smallest representative of the narrow- billed Parrots. The plumage is green, as in all narrow beak parakeets. On the chin there is a very small orange throat patch. Forehead, crown, occiput and nape are bluish tinge. The neck and upper breast are yellowish green. On the lower breast and belly yellowish green this gradually changes into a green. The back is olive-green plumage. The upper tail-coverts are bluish green.
The beak is horn colored. The eye-ring is white and the iris dark brown.
The flight is fast. The birds often change during the flight direction. During the flight phases alternate with strong wing beats and gliding phases from each other.
Area of distribution and behavior
The distribution area of Tovisittichs extends from southwestern Mexico through Central America to northern Colombia and Venezuela. Its habitat is subtropical or tropical forests. It occurs in dry forests, humid gallery forests, mangroves, open landscapes with scattered forest remnants, scrubland, secondary forests and open woodlands. As adaptable way, he has also opened up human settlement areas and occurs in suburban gardens and parks with single large trees. It often occurs in small flocks and adheres preferably in the treetops. His green plumage offers him be as good protection, that it is hardly discernible in the green foliage.
For food spectrum of Tovisittichs include fruits, nectar, flowers and seeds. On plantations, they can cause some damage. There are cave breeders whose breeding season falls in the period from February to April. The clutch can be very large and exceptionally contain up to eight nestlings. The swarms separate at the beginning of the reproductive period in individual pairs and form again only in late spring.
Attitude in captivity
Tovisittiche were first imported to Europe in 1872 and offered relatively regularly since then in the trade. There are heat -loving species, which must be kept in aviaries. Familiar way Tovisittiche need at least a frost-free shelter for overwintering.